Mount Kasa

Mount Kasa
Mount Kasa
笠ヶ岳
	Mount Kasa from Mount Yari
Highest point
Elevation	2,897.48 m (9,506.2 ft)
Listing	List of mountains in Japan; 100 Famous Japanese Mountains
Coordinates	36°18′55″N 137°37′00″E / 36.31528°N 137.61667°E
Naming
Language of name	Japanese
Pronunciation	[kasaɡatake]
Geography
	Takayama, Gifu Prefecture; Japan
Parent range	Hida Mountains
Topo map(s)	Geospatial Information Authority 25000:1 笠ヶ岳; 50000:1 上高地
Climbing
First ascent	1683(Enkū)
Easiest route	Hike

Mount Kasa (笠ヶ岳, Kasa-ga-take) is one of the 100 Famous Japanese Mountains, reaching the height of 2,897 m (9,505 ft). It is situated in Japan's Hida Mountains in Gifu Prefecture and in Chūbu-Sangaku National Park.^[3] The shape of the mountain looks like the Umbrella("Kasa"-笠) in the triangle. Therefore, it became this name.^[4] There are many mountains with same name in Japan and this is the tallest.

History

In 1683 – It was said that Enkū had opened this mountain.^[5]
In 1823 – The Buddhist monk Banryū climbed to the top, and placed a bronze Buddha statue at the top in 1824.^[6]
In 1894, August 2 – Englishman Walter Weston had climbed on the top.^[7]
In 1913, August – Usui Kojima had climbed on the top.^[5]
In 1932 – Mountain hut of Kasa Mountain Cottage (笠ヶ岳山荘) was constructed near the top.^[8]
In 1934, December 4 – This area was specified to the Chūbu-Sangaku National Park.^[3]
In 1964 – "Kasa-shin-dō"(笠新道) of the new Trail had been made.^[4] Then it is the main route to the Mount Kasa.
In 1993 – Postage stamp of Mount Kasa and Takayama Festival was put on the market by the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications (Japan).^[9]
In 1995 – Sumie Tanaka (田中澄江 Tanaka Sumie) completed New Flowers of the 100 Mountains, which featured many of the Alpine plant(Trollius japonicus シナノキンバイ and others) on Mount Kasa.^[10]

Mountaineering

Main ascent routes

Hida Mountains and Mountain hut (Kasa Mountain Cottage) from the top

There are three climbing routes to the top of the mountain.^[11]^[12]

Kasa-shin-dō: Shin-Hotaka Onsen(新穂高温泉) – Mount Nukedo – Kasa Mountain Cottage – Mount Kasa
Valley Kuriya: Nakao-Kōgen-guchi(中尾高原口) – Valley Kuriya – Mount Kasa
Traverses Route of Northern Japanese Alps(Hida Mountains) from north side: Mount Sugoroku – Mount Yumiori – Mount Nukedo – Kasa Mountain Cottage – Mount Kasa

Mountain hut

Thera are several Mountain hut around Mount Kasa.^[12] Around Shin-Hotaka-Onsen, there are many hot spring (Onsen) to take the tiredness and to relax.

Kasa Mountain Cottage (笠ヶ岳山荘) – near the top (with Campsite)
Wasabi-Daira Hut (ワサビ平小屋) – near the entrance of Kasa-shin-dō
Kagami-Daira Mountain Cottage (鏡平山荘) – near the Pond Kagami(鏡池)
Sugoroku Hut (双六小屋) – between Mount Sugoroku and Mount Momisawa (with Campsite)

Geography

Alpine plant(Trollius japonicus シナノキンバイ ) in Shakushi-daira around Mount Kasa

It is the mountain that consists chiefly of the Porphyry (geology).^[4] The higher region than Shakushi-daira(杓子平) are the forest limit of Siberian Dwarf Pine belt, and the place that Alpine plant grows naturally and Rock Ptarmigan live.

Nearby mountains

Mount Kasa is on the subridge (from Mount Sugoroku) of the main ridge line in the southern part of the Hida Mountains.^[11]　There are Mount Shakujō and Mount Ōkibanotsuji on the southern ridge.

Mount Yari and Mount Hotaka from Mount Kasa before the sunrise

Mountain	Elevation	Distance from the Top	Note
Mt. Yari 槍ヶ岳	3,180 m (10,433 ft)	9.2 km (5.7 mi)	100 Famous Japanese Mountains
Mt. Kasa 笠ヶ岳	2,897 m (9,505 ft)	0 km (0.0 mi)	100 Famous Japanese Mountains
Mt. Shakujō 錫杖岳	2,168 m (7,113 ft)	3.8 km (2 mi)	Rock climbing on the rock peak
Mt. Hotaka 穂高岳	3,190 m (10,466 ft)	9.2 km (6 mi)	Tallest mountain in Hida Mountains 100 Famous Japanese Mountains
Mt. Haku 白山	2,702 m (8,865 ft)	72.3 km (44.9 mi)	Tallest mountain in Ishikawa Prefecture 100 Famous Japanese Mountains

Rivers

The mountain is the source of the following rivers, each of which flows to the Sea of Japan.^[12]

Sugoroku River (a tributary of the Jinzū River)
Gamata River (tributaries of the Takahara River)

Gallery

Mount Kasa
from Mount Nukedo
Mount Kasa
from south
Mount Kasa
from Mount Kurai
Mount Kasa and Hida Mountains
from Mount Suisho

References

^ "Information inspection service of the Triangulation station". Geospatial Information Authority of Japan,(高山-上高地-笠ヶ岳). Archived from the original on June 9, 2009. Retrieved December 1, 2010.
^ ^a ^b "Map inspection service". Geospatial Information Authority of Japan,(高山-上高地-笠ヶ岳). Retrieved December 1, 2010.
^ ^a ^b "Chūbu-Sangaku National Park". Ministry of the Environment (Japan). Archived from the original on February 27, 2012. Retrieved December 1, 2010.
^ ^a ^b ^c Dictionary of name of Japanese mountain (日本山名辞典). Sanseido. 1992. p. 122. ISBN 4-385-15403-1.
^ ^a ^b 1000 Japanese Mountains. YAMA-KEI Publishers. 1992. ISBN 4-635-09025-6.
^ "THE HOTAKA MOUNTAIN RANGE – Chubusangaku National Park". chubusangaku.jp. Retrieved 2024-07-16.
^ Mountaineeraing and exploration in Japanese alps, (in 1896 by Walter Weston) (new ed.). translated into Japanese (日本アルプスの登山と探検), Iwanami　Shoten. 2005. ISBN 4-00-334741-2.
^ The story of mountain huts in Northern Japanese Alps. Tokyo Shimbun. 1997. ISBN 4-8083-0374-4.
^ 100 Famous Japanese Mountains with postmark of stamp with the scenery. Hukurōsha. 2007. ISBN 978-4-89806-276-0.
^ Sumie Tanaka (1995). New Flowers of the 100 Mountains (新・花の百名山). Bunsyunbunko. ISBN 4-16-731304-9.
^ ^a ^b Alpen guide Kamikōchi, Mount Yari and Mount Hotaka (アルペンガイド). YAMA-KEI Publishers. 2000. ISBN 4-635-01319-7.
^ ^a ^b ^c Mountain and plateau map, Mount Yari, Mount Hotaka and Kamikōchi (山と高原地図). Shobunsha Publications. 2010. ISBN 978-4-398-75717-3.